If you’re worried about the state of your tennis abilities, you’re not alone. Thankfully, however, there are steps you can take right now to recover and get your tennis swing back in perfect harmony.
One thing’s for sure: regular tennis practice is worth pursuing. Of course, you get to enjoy the invigorating experience of this dynamic sport and the reward of observing your performance improving over time. You also get to enjoy significant health benefits such as reduced body fat and increased muscle tone and strength.
With all that in mind, now is the time to get your tennis swing, as well as your all-round game back on track. Read on for our top tips on how to do exactly that!
Perform necessary equipment maintenance.
If you’re not in your best condition, your tennis equipment may not be either. It’s true that a good workman never blames his tools, but it’s also true that athletes require quality equipment to perform to their maximum potential. Performing necessary maintenance on your racket is the first step you should take to improve your tennis swing.
What does that involve? Regularly restringing, of course! We’re all under stress most of the time and your racket strings are no exception! This applies even if your racket has sat in a sports bag for a prolonged period. Get it checked out before you resume your regular practice.
Study patterns of play and focus on one
Tennis is obviously an intensely physical sport; however, success depends on a strategic approach. Even if you’re struggling to get back to the court, you can work on your game at home by studying different patterns of play. It’s a good idea to focus on one in particular and master its theory comprehensively rather than dividing your attention among many.
You might choose to invest in a book, but there are significant online resources that you can draw on too. Videos can be especially useful as they show real-world examples of these strategies in action.
Work on your backhand and forehand
Once you’re on the court again, you can implement drills to improve both your backhand and your forehand swing. You might first seek to improve your stance and grip. A firm grip and a ready position are fundamental to a successful swing! Other recommended drills will require the help of a coach or a friend. You might ask them to throw ball after ball to you at waist height. Your job is to hit them using a backhand swing until the movement feels natural.
When it comes to your forehand, one popular drill requires you to warm up by using your non-dominant hand to hit shots. Later, you can add the dominant hand and practice from a ready position, facing the net.
By definition, drills are repetitive – so they can get a little boring! They are, however, invaluable if you’re truly committed to improving your tennis swing.
Learn more about momentum
Ask any expert in the sport and they’ll tell you that tennis is a game of momentum. What you need to do is fine-tune your momentum detector so you can quickly identify changes in momentum during a game. If you study how to react in different relationships to momentum, then you’ll be well equipped to play in any and every situation.
You might choose to learn about momentum by studying the masters. Rafael Nadal’s approach is a great place to start.
Finesse your follow-through
Although follow-through occurs after your racket makes contact with the ball, it’s still important to analyse and improve it if you want to better your overall tennis swing. If your follow-through is shoddy, you’re also more likely to more likely to experience injury.
You can improve your follow-through by elongating it. Your first instinct may be to stop it, but a longer distance will help to slow your racket and reduce strain. This protects your arm and shoulder for future swinging action!
Build up your general fitness levels
Ok, this isn’t specifically tennis swing-related, but there’s no point having the perfect swing if you can’t back it up with stamina and speed. Regularly undertaking simple at-home exercises like burpees, push-ups, and squats will help keep you keep in top physical condition for tennis.
Once you’ve worked your way through these tips, you’ll feel much more confident about stepping back onto the court! Remember, regular practice is the best way to improve your tennis swing and overall performance. Take pleasure in your practice and you’re bound to see some impressive results soon.